Why did I not repair it?

Well before closing it in, I took the opportunity to glass the 2 plywood bulkheads fore and aft of the area under the floor. I have also decided to install a pair of bunks for the gas tank in this area just behind the keel (this project is yet to be started). The new floor will have a hinged access door. I have noticed a few in the Boaters World catalogue for + or - $170. Unfortunately, they are not quite the dimension I require. I hope not to have to build a cover. Pre-engineered is the way for me to go.

It was so long ago that I forget to even mention it. I replaced the cockpit drain (2 bulkhead fittings and a curvy piece of .75 inch hose) with a 2 inch straight fibreglass tube. The old system was always plugged with leaves and mud so the cockpit would be knee-deep in water. The new drain never clogs. Except that, the Sandpiper sits bow-down at the dock and there is always 2-3 inches of water in the front of the cockpit. This permanent collection of water eventually finds its way into the inaccessible bilge under the cockpit. And, from there it saturates the styrofoam bouyancy and seeps under the cabin floor and finds its way into the lockers under the berths.

Does your cockpit drain completely? Mine always had a little water left in the forward corner. Even if I stood on the transom, the boat would not pitch enough to drain the cockpit.

I think that some original literature shows 2 drains at the front of the cockpit rather than 1 at the rear-centre. Perhaps there was a mold change sometime after hull #123.

I know that my lazarette leaks into the bilge under the cockpit. When I lifted the floor there was evidence that some of my epoxy work had leaked from the lazarette to the bilge.

My lazarette stays dry since I removed the transom. The cockpit seats now drain directly overboard rather than through the hose drains (that were usually plugged).

I tried placing a hole in that location. It is now a locker for flares. You see, that volume immediately behind the keel but forward of the cockpit is filled with foam. I bored out a 6" round cylinder through the foam(using a piece of stove pipe as a boring-drill) to form a 6" round x 20"(+/-) storage locker. The 6" screw port provides a good finish inside the cabin.

I successfully accessed the bilge by cutting a 6" port down through one of the quarter births. This allowed me to sponge the water out of the bilge.

What I found when I finally removed the cockpit floor was that there were two 3/4" holes through the plywood from the bilge into the foam filled area. This was probably how the foam was poured into the void before the deck was placed down over the hull and liner. I am convinced that water from the bilge has soaked through the two open holes and has saturated the foam behind the keel.

I have since glassed over the plywood bulkhead and have covered the 2 holes. I have not yet plugged the crescent-shaped opening above the plywood bulkhead and between the hull and the liner. I know that the Sandpiper claims to have water-tight compartments; however, I suggest that everyone reach up and aft from inside the quarter lockers. There is probably a narrow, unblocked space. This allows water from the bilge to climb up into the locker when the boat is sailed on her rails.

posted October 22, 2003 06:03 PM            

As far as the floor, you can read my mind! I'm going to be working on that idea over the winter. Pricey though. I figure if the grating is strategically supported, it should save wear and tear on the original floor underneath. And look real classy too.

By the way, there's a sweet Sandpiper for sale in my town. Early '80s with a Dark Blue hull if I remember. Solid clean boat. Not sure yet on $. Owner needs cash for business.

The area under the quarter berth is the famous inaccessible bilge. On my 'piper, this void was loosely filled with styrofoam blocks (2-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 12" to 24" long) and a few styrofoam slabs (3" thick x 12" to 18" rectangular). I was able to remove a lot of the blocks through the 6" access port I installed. The rest came out when the cockpit floor was removed. The styrofoam was amazingly heavy.

I am currently sailing without the bouancy that is a feature of the Sandpiper design. I may choose to strap a pair of tire tubes into the bilge.

posted November 19, 2003 04:03 AM         

I took a couple of photos on Sunday. However, the digital camera belongs to my son. It is new and we are having difficulty getting the pictures to download.